The German government and several electronic firms (Telefunken,
Fernseh AG, Loewe, etc.) backed the development of electronic
television almost at the start of the Nazi regime. A 180-line
system was developed around 1933 or 34 and was field tested around
the Berlin area. The Germans pushed for a public system to show off
during the 1936 Summer Olympic games, which were also held in Berlin.
This activity was all part of the "race for television"
where England, the USA (RCA, Don Lee and Philco) and Germany all wanted
to be first to introduce an all electronic television system. The Germans
used (with permission) the technologies of both Philo Farnsworth and
Vladimir Zworykin in their TV system.
The first regular electronic television service in Germany began in Berlin on March 22, 1935, as Deutscher Fernseh Rundfunk. Broadcasting from the Fernsehsender Paul Nipkow, it used a 180-line system, and was on air for 90 minutes, three times a week (courtesy of Marausz Olbrychowski)
By the time the Olympics rolled around, the
Germans were still only transmitting 180-line pictures. These were
fuzzy and could be considered a technological bridge between the
obsolete mechanical systems and modern television. But the Germans
did offer regular service with a broadcast schedule from this time
until well into the war. The German's regular TV service remained at
180 lines until February of 1937 when it was increased to 441-lines,
curiously only a few weeks after RCA had also increased to 441 lines.
The opening ceremonies. A TV camera can be seen in the center.
The German service using 441 lines remained in service at the
Witzleben transmitter site until 1943 when it was hit during an
American bombing raid. Curiously, or should I say bizarrely, the
Germans took their TV system and service with them to occupied
France. They transmitted off the Eiffel Tower from about 1942 until
their retreat in 1944.
From 1936 until 1939 Germans in the Berlin area could watch a variety
of programming by paying 1 Reichsmark admission to a special
television theater (called "Fernsehstube" in German). A few
sets were placed in these theaters which usually were adjacent to
German post offices (the post office usually administrated
broadcasting in European countries). After the war started, TV sets
were placed in military field hospitals (Lazaretten) so that wounded
soldiers could watch programs. This was the primary function of the
German-run Paris station as well. The soldiers usually saw cabarets
and newsreels.
Popular Mechanix, October 1938
The "Volkfernseher" (People's TV) was made by several
companies simultaneously: Fernseh AG, Lorenz, Radio AG D.S. Loewe,
Tekade, and Telefunken. It was officially called
"Einheitsfernseher E1" (Einheitsfernseher would best
translate as Standard TV or Universal TV. Einheit means unity). Only
50 E1 TVs were actually made. The E1 was supposed to be the first set
offered to the public for the advertised price of 650 Reichsmarks
(About $170), quite a good deal considering the price of the 5 inch
vision only RCA TT-5 was $199.95. The first date of sale was to be
September 1st, 1939. These "sales" never happened since the
Nazi regime invaded Poland instead starting the Second World War.
The E1 looks identical to the Philips model 2405, sold in England.
German sets that still exist (consoles etc.) were never released to
the public for sale. Only engineers, the official Post Office viewing
rooms and some high-ranking Nazi Party officials got them.
